221 pirat] 
we ascended the range through which the first stream passed, in a cafion ; 
on the western. side was a circular. valley, about 15 miles long, through 
whieh. the Tage, wound its way, issuing from a in the main moun- 
_ tain, which rose abruptly beyond. The valley looked yellow with faded 
grass,; atid the trail we had followed was visible, making towards the gorge, 
and this was evidently a pass ; but again, while all was bright sunshine on 
the ridge and on the valley where'we were, the snow was falling heavily 
in the mountains. I determined to go still to the southward, and encamp- 
ed on the stream near the forks; the animals being fatigued and the 
grass tolerably good. 
The rock of the ridge we had ascended is a compact lava, assuming a 
granitic appearance and structure, and containing, in some places, small 
nodules of obsidian. So far as composition and aspect are concerned, the 
ae in other parts of the ridge appears to be eel ; but it is probable 
that this is aaky a compact form of lava of recent o 
by observation, a elevation of the ‘encampment was 5,020 feet and 
the latitude 38° 49’ 5 
January 23.—We sone along the course of the other branch towards 
the southeast, the country affording a fine road ; and, passing some slight 
dividing grounds, descended towards the valley of another stream. There 
was a somewhat rough-looking mountain ahead, which it appeared to issue 
from, or to enter—we could not tell which ; eand as the course of the valley 
and the inclination of the ground had a favorable direction, we te 
sanguine to find here a branch of thé Buenaventura ; but were again d 
appointed, finding it an inland water, on which we encamped after a day's s 
journey of 24 miles. It was evident ‘that, from the time we descended into 
the, plain at Summer lake, we had been flanking the great range of moun- 
tains which divided the Great Basin from the waters of the Pacific ; and 
that the continued succession, and almost connexion, of lakes and rivers 
which we encountered, were the drainings of thatrange. Itsrains, Springs, 
and snows, would sufficiently account for these lakes and ire numer 
were. 
January 24.—A man was discovered the camp as we 
ie about to start this morning, who tahoe to be an mets of rather ad- 
vanced age—a sort of forlorn hope, who seemed to have been worked u 
into the peantition of visiting the strangérs who were passing through the 
country. He seized the hand of the first man he met as he came up, out 
of breath, and held on, as if to assure himself of protection. He brought 
with him.in a little skin bag a few pounds of the seeds of a pine tree, which 
to-day we saw for the first time, and which Dr. Torrey has deseribed asa 
new species, under the name of pinus monophyllus ; in popular language, 
it might be called the nut pine. We purchased them all from him he 
nut is oily, of eth samba flavor, and ere be very nutritious, as it 
ich we were now 
ral 
